Crown authorities announced this week that the company is ready to start a $540 million expansion that will include the construction of the biggest hotel in Australia. Crown’s third hotel will have 658 rooms and will be built on Clarendon Street as of the beginning of October.

A spokesperson for the company said that as part of the expansion a $40 million conference hall will be built next to the Crown Promenade Hotel. Besides, $65 million will be spent to remodel 430 rooms in the Crown Towers hotel. The casino gaming areas will be upgraded with an investment of $140 million so as to make them “lighter and brighter”.

David Courtney, Crown Melbourne Chief Executive, said the company hopes that Planning Minister Justin Madden approves the necessary construction permits for the 27-storey project. Once it is built, the third hotel will increase the number of rooms in the Crown complex to 1,600.

“The redevelopment is an invaluable addition to Melbourne's tourism infrastructure,” Mr. Courtney said. “The project will create 4,000 jobs during construction and another 500 positions on completion.” He also added that the new hotel of the Crown Casino complex, which is expected to open by May 2010, would have shops, a pool and spa and a training center.